Ten minutes ago, inside the banquet hall.
Selim only felt at ease after seeing Charles Philip and Eric leave.
Just moments earlier, Charles Philip had used a special method to check whether she possessed the Magic Source common among extraordinary individuals.
Fortunately, she had chosen the profession of Soul Eater Walker, converting all her magic into Soul Power, skillfully evading his magic detection.
Although she had managed to avoid this simple probing, the future still promised to be fraught with difficulties.
Therefore, she still couldn’t do without Sophia’s strength, and in the future, she would even need Cecilia Ross’s help.
Selim turned to look at Sophia, watching her immerse herself joyfully in the unexpected fortune of having received an Engagement Ring, utterly ignoring Selim’s own feelings.
A trace of displeasure rose in Selim’s heart, spurred on by her possessiveness.
“How can you be happy just because of a gift from another man?”
“Sophia, hand it over.” Her tone was laced with an unmistakable, unquestionable firmness.
Sophia, still immersed in her joy, didn’t expect Selim to suddenly speak to her with such a cold face.
She glanced at the rib she’d bitten into, and in a state of “I don’t understand, but I’m greatly shocked,” she tentatively handed it over: “Uh… you want this? Then… here?”
Seeing the rib—already with a bite taken out—offered in front of her, Selim was speechless.
Suddenly, she grabbed the shining Silver Dagger from the table and raised it high, the blade plunging deep into the heavy wooden tabletop, the handle trembling violently.
“Wow, what are you doing?” Sophia was startled by Selim’s sudden move.
“I don’t like anyone coveting me, or what’s mine.”
Selim drew the knife out with her left hand, while her right picked up several strands of silver hair that had fallen beside her ear—hair that Charles Philip had inadvertently touched during his investigation.
With a flick of her wrist, a cold glint flashed, and those strands of silver hair silently drifted to the ground.
“So, give me that ring, or destroy it.”
This was the first time Sophia had seen Selim display such undisguised hostility.
She misunderstood, thinking it was out of jealousy.
After all, Selim’s Unmarried Fiance had given her an Engagement Ring; it was quite reasonable for Selim to mistake it as Sophia stealing her beloved, anyone would feel offended.
Even though, in Sophia’s eyes, all she saw was the glittering gold coins the ring could fetch in the future…
Facing Selim’s serious gaze, Sophia felt her heart ache, her fingers trembling as she took the ring out of her coin pouch.
Just before handing it over, she pulled back, her voice plaintive: “Can’t I at least sell it? Otherwise, it feels like such a waste.”
“I have no interest in your Unmarried Fiance; to me, this ring is just a pile of gold coins.”
“Do you actually want to have some other ideas?”
“I said, give it to me!” Selim’s gaze remained icy cold.
Even though she knew Sophia only wanted to exchange the ring for money, having the girl she liked accept a ring from another man was, in a certain sense, already an unforgivable offense to her.
“…Fine.” With utmost reluctance, Sophia placed the ring on Selim’s outstretched palm and turned her head away, as if unable to bear watching her gold fly away.
Seeing Sophia’s miserly expression, Selim was still a little annoyed, but mostly found it amusing.
With a swift motion, she snatched the ring into her left hand, gripping it tightly in her palm.
Taking advantage of Sophia’s inattention, Selim flicked her right hand, retrieving a Blue Gemstone as deep as the ocean from her Game Inventory and, without giving Sophia time to react, pressed it into her hand.
Though the gemstone was precious, it was of no use to Selim at the moment.
If she simply took away Sophia’s belongings, Sophia’s affection would decrease, but by offering excessive compensation, she could shift the favorable impression that Charles Philip’s “generosity” had given Sophia onto herself instead.
A useless gem with only monetary value and no other worth was just the right compensation for Sophia.
The moment the ring left her hand, Sophia felt as if she heard her gold coins bidding her a tearful farewell.
This caused her great pain, but in the very next second, she suddenly felt a smooth, rounded object appear in her palm.
She turned back, focusing her gaze, and found a luminous Blue Gemstone quietly lying in her hand.
“This… is this for me?” Sophia was overjoyed to recover her loss and even double it; even the slight resentment she had felt toward Selim instantly vanished.
“Wait, didn’t you say you didn’t have any money? Where did you get this gemstone?”
When it came to money, Sophia’s greed radar was immediately activated, quickly picking up on the inconsistency in Selim’s earlier lies.
But Selim, having decided to bring it out, had already prepared a complete story in her heart.
She entered her role without a hitch.
A thin mist welled up in her eyes, and her voice carried just the right touch of sadness and longing.
“This is a keepsake from a Friend…”
She turned her head slightly, fingers brushing the corner of her eye: “She told me, if I ever met another Friend worthy of entrusting this to, I should give this gift symbolizing friendship to her.”
“This way, I wouldn’t be letting down the last bond between us.”
Of course, Selim was lying, but the effect was undeniable.
Hearing this, the smile froze on Sophia’s face, and she suddenly felt the gemstone in her hand grow heavy.
To exchange the purest feelings of a girl for gold coins—even Sophia would be plagued by guilt.
Even though, during their first meeting, Selim had teased and threatened her.
But for some reason, Sophia now felt as if she were the one bullying Selim, even though it was always Selim making the effort; a strange sense of guilt entwined her, as if she owed Selim something.
Sophia desperately wanted to slip the Blue Gemstone into her wallet, but her hand hovered awkwardly in the air.
“Ahaha… the meaning of this thing is a bit too weighty…” Sophia glanced at Selim, then at the gemstone in her hand, chuckling awkwardly.
“What, you don’t like it? It’s all I have left to offer now…”
Selim pressed her lips together and spoke in a deeply disappointed tone: “I’m sorry…”
Sophia’s guilt continued to accumulate, warring with her reason.
In the end, she couldn’t withstand the test of conscience and, with a firm resolve, handed the Blue Gemstone back to Selim.
“Something this important… I’d better not…”
Silently, Sophia prayed Selim would take the gemstone back; out of sight, out of mind. Otherwise, she feared she would soon be unable to resist accepting it.
Seeing Sophia return the gemstone, a flicker of surprise flashed through Selim’s heart, which quickly transformed into a sense of pride and satisfaction.
Cecilia Ross was already bent; with her, what was needed was attraction and a response to her fiery, sincere love.
But Sophia was different. She was the king of loneliness, caught between bent and straight, needing long-lasting and accepting love, requiring a slow and steady approach.
Her efforts to PUA Sophia were finally bearing fruit—Selim was occupying more space in Sophia’s heart, her interests weighing heavier in Sophia’s decisions.
This was a good start to “bending” Sophia.
“So… you still don’t consider me a Friend.” Hearing Sophia’s words, Selim’s face paled, as if struck by a heavy blow.
The Blue Gemstone in her hand fell to the floor at just the right moment, clinking crisply as it rolled away.
“Wait, that’s not what I meant.” Seeing the unintended effect of her actions, a hint of panic flashed in Sophia’s emerald eyes as she hastily picked up the gemstone from the floor.
Seeing that the gemstone was unharmed, Sophia breathed a sigh of relief and explained, “What I mean is, this carries your longing and is too precious to you—how could I take away something you love?”
“My Sensei always taught me, never to build your own gain on another’s pain.”
“So… are you still willing to be my Friend?” Selim immediately looked up, the shadows gone from her eyes, replaced by a pure, hopeful smile.
It was a beautiful smile that left Sophia dazed for a moment.
Sophia’s heart raced, and she said, “A Friend? I suppose… I suppose so.”
“Since you’re my Friend, then please accept it.”
Selim took Sophia’s hand, pried open her fingers, and firmly pressed the gemstone into her palm.
“Alright, in that case, I won’t refuse any longer.” At this point, Sophia no longer stood on ceremony.
She slipped the gemstone into her wallet, and as she heard it clink against the coins, she couldn’t help but hum contentedly.
To her, this sound was pure enjoyment for the soul.
It was like people who love to check their savings before bed, so they can have sweet dreams afterward.
“So, is this gemstone the gift you said was perfect for me?” Sophia, now satisfied, asked.
“Of course not.” Selim laughed lightly, her fingertips grazing Sophia’s hand.
“Sophia, you deserve better.”
“You mean an even bigger, more valuable gemstone?”
“Not just that. Do you want it?”
“I do!” Sophia nodded like a bobblehead.
“Then, as my good Friend… ask fewer questions and listen to me more, alright?”
Selim had laid all the groundwork for this moment.
Already basking in small happiness, Sophia made a gesture as if locking her lips, showing her agreement.
“Very good,” Selim’s smile deepened, “tomorrow, accompany me outside to find someone.”